10 Highly Effective Treatments For Tinnitus

You know that annoying buzzing from a fly trapped in the room? Imagine if it was inside your head. Hearing persistent sounds like ringing in the ears is the bane of tinnitus sufferers. Some 50 million Americans experience tinnitus, a 2010 study found, and for around 10% of them, it's crazy making. "Tinnitus can keep people from concentrating, sleeping, and enjoying everyday activities," says William H. Martin, PhD, director of the Tinnitus Clinic at Oregon Health & Science University's Hearing Research Center.

Why it happens
Researchers suspect that hyper nerve firing in the auditory system creates the perceived sound. Tinnitus can also be triggered by loud noise: Think rock concerts or fireworks. Some medical issues or drugs may play a role. Or it may happen for no reason. "In most people, there's no cure," says Craig Newman, PhD, head of audiology at the Cleveland Clinic, "but some strategies can bring relief."

Mind management
Many patients respond to the onset of tinnitus with anxiety, depression, or both. An area of the brain known as the limbic system regulates emotion and may hold the key to why tinnitus bothers some people but not others. "If you think of tinnitus as threatening, the brain pays more attention, and the experience becomes even more disturbing," Dr. Newman says. Identifying negative or irrational thoughts (This noise is going to drive me insane) and consciously thinking more positively (I've dealt with this before) may help. Forms of counseling known as cognitive-behavioral and acceptance therapy may help patients conquer the emotional response to tinnitus.

Correct posture
With more and more of us slumping over our various screens, doctors are realizing that muscle-nerve connections in the neck may also promote tinnitus in people who spend a lot of time slouching at a computer or gazing down at mobile devices. "Sitting up straight can make a difference," Dr. Newman says. "Your ears should be in alignment with your shoulders and hips." (Try these 5 yoga poses to improve your posture.)

Dental care
Grinding your teeth, chewing gum, and eating chewy food may be potential tinnitus triggers. (Check out these 25 foods even dentists won't eat.) "There's a connection between the centers of the brain that control the muscles for chewing and those connected to the auditory system," Dr. Newman says. One 2012 study linked the severity of jaw pain from temporomandibular disorder and that of tinnitus. Other research suggests that people with TMD are more prone to tinnitus and can sometimes control the sound in their heads simply by moving their jaws. Avoiding chewy foods and getting a special dental device to control clenching and grinding may help ease the problem.

Nutritional supplements
B vitamins, zinc, and ginkgo may help some people with tinnitus, says Michael Seidman, MD, medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. For example, research has linked tinnitus with deficiencies of vitamin B12 and zinc, both of which are essential for normal nerve function.

Not all studies find that these supplements can remedy the condition. "However, these nutrients can help in 30 to 40% of patients, and that alone may make them worth trying," Dr. Seidman says. Research is also mixed for ginkgo, but at least 11 randomized, placebo-controlled studies show a benefit from this herbal antioxidant. "Ginkgo [240 mg twice a day], zinc [30 mg a day], and B vitamins [25 to 50 mg a day] are my first line of natural treatments," Dr. Seidman says. (Check out our complete guide to supplements.)

Anxiety relief
Years ago, the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam (Xanax) was shown to improve tinnitus in 76% of people in a placebo-controlled, doubleblind clinical trial. "But the herb valerian is a natural anxiety-relieving option," Dr. Seidman says. Receptors that deliver sound to the brain are mediated by GABA, a neurotransmitter, and valerian affects GABA and eases tinnitus, he says. The anxiety relief valerian provides also makes noise less distressing and helps people sleep better. Find valerian root capsules at the health food store; follow dosage advice on the label.

Sleep hygiene
Improving sleep habits—and getting more shut-eye—can help take the edge off tinnitus-related anxiety, which may make tinnitus itself feel less troublesome. "Steps like keeping a regular bedtime, avoiding caffeine in the afternoon or later, taking a shower before turning in, reflecting on the positive things that happened during the day and jotting them down in a journal, and setting aside a 'worry time' (that's not right before you go to bed) can all make a difference," Dr. Newman says. (Here's how to get your best night's sleep.)

Therapeutic sound
Machines that produce soothing nature sounds can fade tinnitus into the background. That can be helpful at night, when quiet makes tinnitus sound like a shriek in the dark, says Dr. Newman. Start with cheap white-noise generators or sound machines (find both at retailers and websites such as amazon.com). Some people find music works. "Desktop fountains can be soothing, too," Dr. Newman says. Finally, an audiologist will have aids that generate "showerlike" sounds or can be individually modified based on listening preferences.

Managing meds
Some drugs are known to cause or worsen tinnitus. These include antibiotics such as erythromycin, vancomycin, and neomycin; cancer medications such as mechlorethamine and vincristine; diuretics such as bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, and furosemide; and even NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Ask your doctor if anything you take may aggravate tinnitus. She may recommend changing medications, reducing the dosage, or quitting the drug altogether.

Getting a checkup
Resolving health problems that can trigger tinnitus can often quiet the inner noise. "Tinnitus treatment begins with a thorough exam," Dr. Martin says. Conditions an audiologist or otolaryngologist will look for include Meniere's disease (an inner ear disorder), benign tumors on nerves connecting the inner ear and brain, and cardiovascular conditions such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. But the most common medical culprit is hearing loss, which leaves the patient hearing less normal sound, forcing her to focus on the tinnitus.

Removing earwax
Ears should be self-cleaning, but in some people, dense packs of wax can build up and irritate the eardrum. Though it doesn't help everyone, having a doctor or nurse extract a blockage may improve hearing and help quiet tinnitus.